OKC Thunder season review: Analyzing Russell Westbrook’s complicated season

The tough guard:

Guarding Westbrook in open space is like running from the bulls in Pamplona, except instead of trying to run from the bulls, you’re trying to stop them from getting past you. That alone already has some inherent value:

But combine that with refined playmaking instincts and one of the most athletically overwhelming groups in the league, and you get an offense that nobody really has an answer for. Pay Russ too much attention and he’ll be able to pick you apart with his passing:

Give him space and he could muscle his way into the lane:

Stay somewhere in the middle and he could wait for a beat and hit a streaking Thunder player with an open shot:

I’m not sure how much longer he can last playing like this – which we’ll get to in a second – but he was invaluable at it this year.